How do I fix Exception Access Violation error on startup?
I want to answer so that anyone with my particular situation might benefit ... I had this same frustrating problem with WIN 7, and  a Intel HD graphics  (which supports only OpenGL 2.1) ... I tried some suggestions which didn't work (though I needed the 2013 C++ library anyway, a link to this is given at the Blender site just below the Blender download links--I had only 2010) then I simply updated the graphics driver from a 2010 version to the 2012 version . and that did it. Actually I was surprised it did, but it did. 

Read also that some other people had to go back to an older driver instead.

At any rate 2.77 can at least run with a Intel HD graphics, I am proof.

By the way I used an Intel utility called Intel driver update Utility to find the right driver. The screen went black after the driver was installed, and I feared the worst, but after restarting things seemed ok, the driver was installed and even Blender worked! Darkest before the dawn or something. Assuming all is well..

Oh last detail which probably doesn't matter) I didn't install Blender, I unzipped the zip file and ran it straight..